UK caused cholera, says Zimbabwe

It’s nice to see a Bishop being so outspoken on this. The Anglican Church in Zimbabwe has been in turmoil, as has so much else in that country, with divisions forming between supporters of the president (evidently a minority, at least in the heirarchy) and those who desire his defeat and/or removal. The conflict about who the rightful Bishop of Harare is, is an example of the way these political realities are affecting the Church. It is also interesting that President Mugabe has tried to paint those who oppose him with the “liberal” and “white” brush of supporting homosexuality because they haven’t left the Anglican Communion (of which the Episcopal Church is still a part.)

At any rate, I am glad to read about a Bishop from the neighboring country of South Africa taking a strong stand against Mugabe, and I hope this is a sign of further movement to come. I agree with those who say Mugabe must be removed by his fellow Africans–after all, what would it look like for one of the last remaining leaders of a colonial independence movement to be removed by western powers? But while it must be done by his own people and his neighbors, it nonetheless must be done.

The cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe which has left hundreds dead was caused by the UK, an ally of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has said.

Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu described the outbreak as a “genocidal onslaught on the people of Zimbabwe by the British”.

On Thursday, Mr Mugabe said the spread of cholera had been halted.

But aid workers warned that the situation was worsening and the outbreak could last for months.

In his comments to media in Harare, Mr Ndlovu likened the appearance of cholera in Zimbabwe to a “serious biological chemical weapon” used by the British.

He described it as “a calculated, racist, terrorist attack on Zimbabwe”.

Mr Mugabe has already accused Western powers of plotting to use cholera as an excuse to invade and overthrow him.

Earlier on Friday a senior South African Anglican bishop said that Mr Mugabe should be seen as a “21st Century Hitler”.

Bishop of Pretoria Joe Seoka called on churches to pray for his removal, the South African Press Association reports.

His comments came as the US ambassador to Zimbabwe warned that the country was turning into a “failed state”.